[Discombobulated]

How do you deal with flashbacks?

Last week I got this out of the blue and it took a while before I realised it wasn’t the present situation that was affecting me so much as a very physical memory from over 30 years ago. I felt the same feelings- it took me days before I realised why I was feeling as intensely as I was. It’s actually never happened to me before (I don’t think) maybe it’ll never happen again.

[lizardlady]

Discombobulated, I use a grounding technique to help me be present in the here and now. I focus on what my five senses are telling me. What do I see, hear, feel, etc?

Some times it also helps me to acknowledge the flashback is from the past and just "ride it out."

[MuddyBoots]

I actually just had a flashback and it was about to trigger a panic attack, but I started using the 4-7-8 breathing technique (hold your tongue against your top teeth, breathe in deeply for 4, hold for 7, exhale with a "whoosh" for 8) and forced myself to focus on what I was doing and got away from what triggered the flashback in the first place.

[Fuzzybear]

[Discombobulated]

Thanks for the replies, I wish I’d realised at the time what was happening- in the moment I was trying hard not to react and keep it together. It actually took me days to realise what had happened.

Weeks later the original situation has been running through my brain after a long time of not thinking about it. Maybe this is intrusive thoughts.

[cool09]

In November is the hospital I had very vivid flashbacks to Elementary and Middle School. Smells triggered these flashbacks: the housekeeper was using some cleaner and the smell made me think of Elementary School.

[Discombobulated]

Originally Posted by cool09

In November is the hospital I had very vivid flashbacks to Elementary and Middle School. Smells triggered these flashbacks: the housekeeper was using some cleaner and the smell made me think of Elementary School.

Smell is a very powerful sense - I’m sorry this happened to you Cool and hope that you found a way to get through unpleasant memories.

I’ve read that flashbacks are part of a defensive mechanism, like an evolutionary survival process to sense danger, but misplaced if that makes sense.

[*Beth*]

Are flashbacks always negative? I mean, can a flashback be a good memory that is so vivid it seems as though I am entirely there?

[lizardlady]

Good question Beth. I think flashbacks are related to trauma which is a response to negative events.

Came back to add.
Did some research. I was wrong.

Positive involuntary memories occur frequently and universally.

Positive involuntary autobiographical memories: You first have to live them - PMC
.

think flashbacks are a ptsd thing

maybe

[*Beth*]

Thanks for the link @lizardlady. I sure do learn a lot on this forum.

[TunedOut]

Originally Posted by Discombobulated

How do you deal with flashbacks?

Last week I got this out of the blue and it took a while before I realised it wasn’t the present situation that was affecting me so much as a very physical memory from over 30 years ago. I felt the same feelings- it took me days before I realised why I was feeling as intensely as I was. It’s actually never happened to me before (I don’t think) maybe it’ll never happen again.

Was there something about your present situation that reminded you of the situation from the past? I have had flashbacks on several occasions but have not had any for a while (a couple of years?). One involved something from decades ago and surfaced when I spoke about it in therapy. I had just not talked about a situation which I was ashamed of and did not understand how deeply it had effected me. I simply pushed it into the back of my mind (I did not forget it but never talked to anyone about it and purposely did not focus on it). I moved on with my life but when I revealed it in therapy, floods of emotions and memories burst forth unabated for a while. After my one and only attempt about six months later I had flashbacks including smells and physical sensations but, thank God , they are now gone. Focusing on God has also stopped my negative, compulsive thoughts. I have been looking forward again, as I did in my youth. I sincerely hope you can process this event and put it behind you. I think when events are too much for us to bear, we bury them but they can effect us unconsciously until we process them. And you are a sensitive soul. Also, I know that some events are very hard to ever process. Thankfully, I was able to process and heal from everything. I hope and pray that you will be able to too!

[Discombobulated]

Thanks TunedOut, without disclosing details yes something happened unexpectedly a few weeks back that made me feel in that moment the same emotions I felt 35 years ago. The original experience is one I didn’t talk about for many years, but it was a troubling incident that I didn’t fully understand or process at the time (I wasn’t an adult). It’s stayed with me but not at all to the forefront of my mind.

I’d say I do understand and have processed it now but it’s still an unpleasant memory- not exactly trauma, but something troubling. I’m doing better today, I’ve been focusing on something else and that helps.